International
The border market with the Dominican Republic, Haitians’ solution to stock up
On Mondays and Fridays, when the binational market of Dajabón (northwest of the Dominican Republic) officially operates, thousands of Haitians crowd at the border to cross the neighboring country and stock up on items that are scarce in their territory and also to sell their products.
This Monday is no exception. At 8 o’clock in the morning and under the strong surveillance of the Specialized Border Security Corps (Cesfront) and the intelligence services, the Dominican Republic opens the border gate. On the other hand, thousands of Haitians, mainly women, have been waiting since the early hours of the morning for the binational market to begin.
A Cesfront official tells EFE that on Mondays and Fridays about 35,000 Haitians can cross the gate, many of whom come in search of food products such as bananas, eggs, salami, rice and flour, due to the deep crisis that their country is experiencing and insecurity.
According to the Food Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the lack of food leads to almost half of the Haitian population, that is, 4.97 million people out of a total of 11 million, facing acute food insecurity and, of these, 1.64 million are in phase 4 of emergency of the Integrated Classification of Food Security Phases (CIF).
But Haitians don’t just come to buy, others come to offer their products. This is the case of Archibald Wilfred, 45, a resident of the Haitian town of Ouanaminthe (just a few meters from the border) and who for six years has had a food products position in the binational market.
“Now I sell much more food than before because, unfortunately, there is not much food there. There is very little food and there is no money anymore,” he tells EFE Archibald, whose customers are mainly merchants from various cities in Haiti, even the capital, who later resell the merchandise.
When asked about his opinion about the deployment of a foreign mission in his country, Archibald considers that “the arrival of troops is 50 percent of the solution. If they arrive it will be good because people expect to have security and with them the gangs will end,” he confides.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, many Haitian policemen try to put order and separate into groups the thousands of people who are waiting to reach the border bridge in a relatively orderly manner, before entering the Dominican side.
Despite police efforts, on several occasions the situation becomes chaotic because many want to be the first to cross, which causes pushes, blows and falls.
In Dajabón, the Dominican authorities proceed to take the biometric data of the thousands of people who enter, as a way to control entry into the country.
Already inside the binational market, there are thousands of people who move in an unstoppable tingling, between shouting and pushing, buying and selling all kinds of products, mainly food, as can be seen in the long line of wheelbrows, ‘tricycles’ and packages on the heads of women returning to Haiti.
Through the border, not only do sellers and buyers enter and leave. Half an hour after the border gate is opened, the first truck of the Dominican Directorate General of Migration arrives that transports dozens of Haitians deported from the country.
María, a young woman of about 30 years old, gets off “the truck,” crying and trembling: “I have lived all my life in Dajabón, but my mother never did the papers for me,” she says.
“I went out to buy something and migration got me into the truck. I don’t know what I’m going to do now,” he adds, as he walks slowly towards Ouanaminthe.
And it’s not the only truck. Throughout the day, there are several who arrive with people who are expelled, a policy that continues despite the calls of the UN and human rights organizations to cease deportations from the Dominican Republic in the face of violence and the critical situation in Haiti.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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